Track: Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine how SMEs in emerging markets can benefit from the use of big data and to look at challenges that SMEs encounter when using big data. SMEs play a critical role in growing the economy of developing, emerging, and also developed countries. In South Africa, SMEs account for 98.5% of the total businesses. This study is exploratory and adopted a desk-review approach where journal articles and government reports were reviewed. It was found that SMEs that use big data are more profitable, productive, and innovative. SMEs find it difficult to use big data tools and technologies. This study recommends that institutions of higher learning should introduce short learning programs or continuous education programs to train SMEs on how to use big data tools and technologies. The government should provide both financial and non-financial support to SMEs so that they are able to use advanced technologies and compete with big corporations. Future studies should look at refining big data tools and technologies for SMEs to provide them with technologies and tools that they can easily use.